Airlines of India

Indian domestic scheduled airlines carried 139 million passengers in 2018, an increase of over 18 % over the previous year (117 m).
The month-over-month growth rate was just under 13 % in Dec. Rapid growth witnessed in the last few years remains a bit uncertain in the near future as a few of the Indian air carriers have posted considerable losses largely due to stiff competition and rising fuel prices. A large portion (ca 80 %) of aircraft operated by airlines in India are leased which gives more flexibility in fleet sizing.

Air India's fleet includes Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 777-200 and 300 series, Airbus A319/A320/A321 and ATR-42 aircraft flying to destinations across four continents extending from San Francisco in the west, Stockholm in the north, Tokyo in the east and Melbourne in the south. Air India earned a total revenue of ca ₹ 222 billion during 2016-17 with a total loss of ₹ 57 bn. and carried almost 21.2 million passengers (excl. Air India Express) in the same year. A major divestment/restructuring plan is planned for Air India.

Air India's low cost airline subsidiary, Air India Express, flies to 18 Indian cities and 13 international destinations incl. Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Al Ain, Muscat, Salalah, Bahrain, Doha, Kuwait, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Dhaka and Colombo with a fleet of Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The airline carried 3.9 million passengers during 2017-18 and reported a total revenue of ₹ 36.5 bn for the same year with a net profit of ₹ 2.6 bn despite rising fuel costs.

Above pic: An Air India Express Boeing 737-800 at Chennai Airport.

Air India Regional (Alliance Air)

Airline Allied Services Ltd. was formed in 1983 as an Indian Airlines subsidiary. Alliance Air (brand name) flight operations began in 1996 and its current fleet includes ATR-42 / ATR-72 turboprop aircraft. Alliance Air (rebranded as Air India Regional) carried 400 000 passengers in 2015-16.

Go Air, promoted by the Wadia Group operates ca 230 daily flights to 25 destinations. Go Air's fleet consists of 44 Airbus A320-200/neo aircraft and the airliner carried over 10.8 million passengers during 2017/18. GoAir launched international operations with air services to Phuket and Malé in Oct '18.

IndiGo, India's largest airline, operates a growing fleet of 200 Airbus A320 and ATR72 turboprop aircraft. Indigo carried ca 52.1 million passengers during 2017-18. The airline operates around 1 200 daily flights to 63 destinations. IndiGo placed large orders for a total of 430 A320neo jets in 2011 and 2014, deliveries of which commenced in March 2016. Later on 25 of the ordered Airbus A320neo aircraft were converted to Airbus A321neo jets. In Nov 2018 the airline converted a further 125 nos of the earlier ordered Airbus A320neo aircraft to the higher capacity and longer range Airbus A321neo aircraft. The first Airbus A321neo jet is expected to be delivered in Nov '18 while the delivery of all the 430 ordered Airbus jets is estimated to be completed by the mid-2020's. IndiGo's orderbook also includes upto 50 ATR72-600 turboprop aircraft for regional routes. IndiGo's revenues for 2016-17 increased to ₹ 194 billion.

Vistara flies to 22 destinations within India and operates over 110 flights a day. It's main hub is at Delhi IGIA. Vistara carried 5.62 million passengers in 2018. The airline placed an order for 13 Airbus A320/A321 neo jets and six Boeing 787-9 aircraft in July '18. The airline recorded a total revenue of over ₹ 21 bn during fiscal '18 and a net loss of ₹ 4.3 bn.

Star Air, a new startup air carrier, flies to Bengaluru, Tirupati, Hubballi and Belagavi.

Defunct Operators

Air Carnival

Air Carnival, a Coimbatore based airline, operated a few regional services within South India. The airline ceased operations in April 2017.

Air Costa

A regional airline based in Vijayawada launched commercial service in Oct 2013 with flights connecting the following eight destinations in India: Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Tirupati, Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada. The airline operated some 16 daily flights until operations ceased in March 2017.

Air Pegasus

Air Pegasus operated regional flights within South India from its base at Bengaluru Airport. The airline carried 117 000 passengers in 2015 but had its flying license suspended in Nov '16.

Indian Airlines

Indian (earlier Indian Airlines) was a major government owned airline providing an extensive domestic air network. Indian carried approx. 6.6 million passengers in 2008 (770,000 in Oct '09) while total revenues amounted to ₹60.5 bn in 2005-06. Indian operated upto 325 daily flights and carried approx. 1.7 million passengers on its international routes.

The vegetarian meals served on Kingfisher Airlines flights were tasty and hot meals were served even on shorter flights, a rarity eg on shorter intra-European flights. A nice touch is the printed menu served to all passengers.

MDLR Airlines

Gurgaon-based MDLR Airlines offered flights between from Delhi to Chandigarh, Kullu, Ranchi, Lucknow, Kolkata and Goa. MDLR's fleet comprised of tthree British Aerospace Avro RJ70 jet aircraft, the only Avro jets (RJ70) ever to be operated by an Indian carrier. The 70-seater aircraft were configured in a two class layout, 6 business and 64 in economy class.

Simplifly Deccan (earlier Air Deccan), later on rebranded as Kingfisher Red, was India's pioneering low-cost carrier when launched in 2003. The airline operated a large fleet of ATR-42-320/500 / ATR-72-212A series turbo-props and Airbus A320 aircraft.

Above pic: An Air Deccan ATR-42 at Bangalore Airport. The new Simplifly Deccan livery resembles that of Kingfisher Airlines' red colour dominated livery. Vijay Mallya led UB Group of companies holds an almost 46 per cent stake in Deccan.

Left pic: A cabin view of an Air Deccan Airbus A320. Air Deccan aircraft are all-economy and snacks and beverages are sold for a nominal price. The airline has a policy of free seating.

Left pic: An Air Deccan Airbus A320. Simplifly Deccan currently operates 22 A320s configured with 180 seats on high density routes to 27 destinations across India. Simplifly Deccan carried around 7.3 million passengers in 2007.

Paramount, a regional airline, was headquarted in Chennai and served upto 50 daily flights, mainly to destinations located in South India. Paramount's fleet included Brazilian 70-seater Embraer 170 regional jets.